Determinants of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the First Decade of Life: A Longitudinal Study Starting at Birth

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Tex. 1979), 2018-03, Vol.71 (3), p.437-443
• Main Authors: Lurbe, Empar, Aguilar, Francisco, Álvarez, Julio, Redon, Pau, Torró, Maria Isabel, Redon, Josep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Birth Weight - physiology; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body Mass Index; Child; Child Development - physiology; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Female; Heart Diseases - physiopathology; Heart Diseases - prevention & control; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Metabolic Diseases - physiopathology; Metabolic Diseases - prevention & control; Prospective Studies; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0194-911X; 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.10529

The present prospective study assessed the association of birth weight (BW) and growth pattern on cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort followed from birth to 10 years of age. One hundred and forty-five subjects (73 girls) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had all their data recorded at birth and at 5 years were enrolled. Of these, 100 (52 girls) also recorded data at 10 years. Anthropometric measurements, office and 24-hour blood pressure, and metabolic parameters were obtained. At 5 years, both BW and current weight were determinants of blood pressure and metabolic parameters; however, as the subjects got older, the impact of body size increased. Higher BW and maternal obesity increased the risk of becoming obese at 5 years while this was reduced if breastfeeding. Maternal obesity was the only factor associated with becoming obese at 10 years. Twenty-two children at 10 years had insulin values ≥15 U/L, some of whom were persistent from 5 years while in others it increased afterward. Subjects with insulin values ≥15 U/L showed significant higher values of office systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and uric acid and lower values of high-density lipoprotein than did those with normal insulin values. Highest weight gain from 5 to 10 years and lowest BW were the main determinants of high insulin levels. In conclusion, although BW was a proxy of the events during fetal life and projected its influence later, the influence of gaining weight was a key determinant in the risk to develop obesity and metabolic abnormalities.